Circuit Around the Grand Ballon)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Circuit around the Grand Ballon In 3 Days: Day 1 of 3: Going up the Grand Ballon Get into the swing of things by going up the Grand Ballon, perfect for those who are up for a challenge! From Guebwiller, the first day of this touring hike will lead you the Grand Ballon, the highest summit of the Vosges Mountains, at an altitude of 1,424 metres. The climb up to this mountain pass is consequently pretty challenging and requires you to be in good physical shape. On your way, you can make the most of the different types of landscapes, the flora and fauna of Vosges, and upon arrival, an exceptional panoramic view over the entire Alsace plain, the Black Forest and even the Bernese Alps, on a clear day. When leaving GUEBWILLER Tourist Office, turn onto “Rue de la République”. At the crossroads with traffic lights, take “Rue du Maréchal Joffre” towards the fire station. At the first roundabout (fire station - Crédit Mutuel), continue opposite on “rue du Vieil Armand’, towards the high school - military cemetery - Auberge du Vallon. At the second roundabout, continue straight uphill. 100 metres ahead, the tarmac road splits. Here, aim for the little wooden footbridge which crosses a stream. This is the entrance of the “Promenade Paul Déroulède” (various benches, tables, impressive trees). Follow the route of this promenade (oak leaf markings). On the left, you’ll see the tombs of the military cemetery and on the right, the canine society training ground. When leaving “Promenade Paul Déroulède”, take the little carriage way called “chemin du Vallon” (don’t take the forest path marked by a yellow circle, which leads to the Ax forest house). Go past the Auberge du Vallon (on your right: very welcoming and good traditional cuisine). Above the Ax fountain, the path bends to the right and ends up on Sandgrube car park (starting point of the fitness trail). Take the wide forest pathway, marked with a yellow circle, towards the Bildstoeckle mountain pass. A few metres before the mountain pass, turn right onto the forest pathway marked with a blue triangle, towards Rehbrunnenkopf. Around 1 km ahead, leave the forest pathway and take the track which goes up to the left, still marked with a blue triangle. After a bend and a little hill, the track ends at the summit of Rehbrunnenkopf (altitude: 632 metres. Bench and viewpoint over the entrance of the Florival valley and the “croix de mission”). The descent begins with the Simbert Krenger track (former president of the Club Vosgien de Guebwiller). Steep at first, it gets easier and leads to the Péternit mountain pass (altitude: 566 metres. Benches and table). Continue towards Rimbach for a few metres, then take the little path marked with a red rectangle with a white stripe, which goes off to the right towards the Munsteraeckerle mountain pass. This little path, which in places turns into a track, gently leads to the mountain pass via Geisskopf’s south slope (altitude: 655 metres. Cute little open wooden shelter, tables and benches). Leave the mountain pass via a forest path going slightly uphill, marked with a red rectangle with a white stripe, towards Judenhut. Around 800 metres ahead, this path takes a sharp turn to the left and goes past two cave entrances. Shortly afterwards, leave the path and take a little track on your left marked with a blue triangle, towards the Saint Pirmin rock and Judenhut. The track climbs, with several bends, the north slope of Ebeneck. After a very steep last bend, the slope becomes more gentle, allowing you to get your breath back a bit. 150 metres ahead, leave the marked track to the left, enter the pastures via a passageway and go towards the left, going slightly uphill (follow the visible prints in the grass) up to the summit of Ebeneck (altitude: 859 metres. Bench. Beautiful view over the Alsace plain, the Black Forest, the top of Guebwiller, Hartmannswillerkopf and the Grand Ballon). Retrace your steps and go up the track marked with a blue triangle. Shortly afterwards, this ends on the rocky ridge of Saint Pirmin rock (altitude: 908 metres. Viewpoint over the small valley of Murbach). The track crosses the rocky ledge and joins, around 200 metres ahead, another path from the left, marked with a red rectangle with a white stripe. Follow this beautiful track, which leads to the Judenhut mountain pass via a few bumps (altitude: 979 metres. Large clearing, with numerous benches, tables, unguarded refuge-shelter of Judenhut. Drinking water at the Schlumberger Fountain). There is around one hour left of constantly going uphill up to the Grand Ballon. Go past the Schlumberger fountain by following the forest pathway marked with a blue cross. A few metres ahead, leave this path to take a narrower path, going up to the right, marked with a red rectangle with a white stripe. On the way up, the path becomes narrower, and turns into a track. It ends on another forest path, which you’ll need to follow to the left for a hundred or so metres, then head back to the right. Shortly afterwards, it goes along the drinking water catchment areas of the Town of Soultz, crosses the path marked with a red diamond, crosses over a former ski slope twice and, after a final bend, exits the forest at the base of the Self de la Vue des Alpes buildings. Now, you just have to cross the Route des Crêtes. The Grand Ballon Chalet Hôtel is just opposite (altitude: 1343 metres). Ascent: 1150 metres - Descent: 80 metres - 13 km En route Auberge du Vallon 10, chemin du Vallon – 68500 Guebwiller – +33(0) 3 89 74 89 86 Traditional cuisine and homemade specialities, à la carte menus between €7.50 and €36 Groups welcome, closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, and only on Mondays in the summer season (Booking recommended) Hôtel de l’ange Rue de la gare – 68500 Guebwiller – +33 (0)3 89 76 22 11 [email protected] Warm welcome at the starting point of the hike, Alsatian and Italian specialities. Every Thursday and Friday: live concerts at the bar - free entry. Room prices from €65 to €92 Breakfast: €11 10% off for Circuit around the Grand Ballon hikers Where to sleep/eat at the Grand Ballon and in the surrounding area? Chalet Hôtel-Restaurant du Grand Ballon +33 (0)3 8948 77 99 Half-board prices (Meal, night and breakfast) between €47 and €55 per person (booking recommended) Hiker picnic (book the day before for the next day) for €10 per person Hôtel - Restaurant à l’Aigle d’Or Rimbach 03 89 76 89 90 15 min walk from the Munsteraeckerlé Menu du jour (3 dishes) – hiker picnic 9€ - 12€ Restaurant closed on mondays Rooms from 55€ Ferme Auberge du Haag +33 (0)3 89 48 95 85 Courses and menu à la carte between €7.50 and €10 Open all year round except from mid-November to mid-December and 2 weeks before Easter/Closed on Wednesdays Ferme Auberge du Grand Ballon +33 (0)3 89 76 95 79 “Marcaire” meal and dishes à la carte between €9 and €18.50 Open from Easter to November every day except Monday evenings and Tuesdays all day Ferme Auberge du Güstiberg +33 (0)3 89 74 05 01 “Marcaire” meal and hiker’s menu between €12 and €20 Picnics made with farm produce available. Open every day, closed from 15th November to 15th January. Refuge du ski-club du Roedelen +33 (0)3 89 76 04 92 Price per night in dormitory €9.50 per adult and €6.50 for children under 16 Fully-equipped kitchen available Open only on Saturday nights Restaurant du Roedelen +33 (0)3 89 76 90 19 / +33 (0)3 89 58 80 15 “Marcaire” meal €15 Open from April to November on weekends and during the week subject to booking Day 2 of 3 - On the ridges towards the Petit Ballon via the GR5 Take the time to admire the landscapes and the viewpoints, which make this second day of walking unique. From the Grand Ballon, this second day of walking mostly takes place on the ridges until you reach the Petit Ballon, going past Le Markstein and Le Klintzkopf. Once more, you can fully appreciate the panoramic views over the plains and valleys on both sides of the mountain. This itinerary goes through forests and stubble-fields, enabling you to discover the wealth of local flora. Leave the Grand Ballon Chalet Hôtel via the hotel’s back door. Go around the welcome point in the Ballons des Vosges Park to the right. The little track which leads to the summit of the Grand Ballon is just behind and starts on the right. It is marked with a red rectangle (GR5) and a blue ring (panoramic circuit around the Grand Ballon). On the way, remembrance plaque in memory of Edouard Wolff (1861-1933), bench and view overlooking the Lac du Ballon. The track arrives at the little summit plateau, being used by the civil aviation Radome’s facilities. Follow the Radome “train” up to the large white sphere, the peak of the Vosges Mountains (altitude: 1424 metres. Viewpoint indicator - exceptional panoramic view). Go past the Diables Bleus monument, and begin the descent via the track marked with a red rectangle, and also marked with a red ring (another panoramic circuit around the Grand Ballon). A little further down, the red ring circuit goes off to the left, towards the Redslob monument. Stay on the track marked with the red rectangle, which goes down towards the Haag mountain pass (altitude: 1233 metres.